Police continue to step up their campaign to close down illegal cannabis grow ops, with the latest being a raid on a farm on the outskirts of Cape Town where cannabis with an estimated R30 million was seized and two people arrested. Police continue to step up their campaign to close down illegal cannabis grow ops, with the latest being a raid on a farm on the outskirts of Cape Town where cannabis with an estimated R30 million was seized and two people arrested. 8 August 2024 at 07:00:00 Cannabiz Africa The police raid on a farm warehouse in Philidelphia in the Western Cape follows the recent bust in Magaliesberg near Johannesburg where cannabis with a street value of R40 million was confiscated. The two raids alone have netted R70 million worth of cannabis (editor’s note: the police may be exaggerating the values of drugs confiscated) and highlight the growing demand by dozens of “grey zone” outlets selling cannabis flower. READ: It depends on our new policy-makers as to whether legalization strengthens or weakens the black market Although any commercial trade in cannabis is strictly illegal, there are scores of businesses that openly sell recreational cannabis, some of which are believed to be fronts for criminal cultivators. The police focus appears to be on dealers and cultivators rather than cannabis outlets, and according to SAPS, 240 alleged dealers have been arrested in the last week as part of the general anti-crime drive, Operation Shanela. Police say that as part of Operation Shanella, R300 million worth of drugs suspected to be crystal meth were seized in Fourways Johannesburg in the last 10 days, and that in the same operation, a kidnapped businessman was rescued and eight kidnappers were arrested. The most recent major raid was on the Cape Flats where a man and a woman were arrested. Police say they confiscated cannabis with a street value of R30 million as well as prohibited firearms and ammunition. Western Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said an investigation was initiated after suspicious activities were reported at a farm in the Philadelphia policing precinct. This led to an integrated operation led by the Provincial Organised Crime detectives including police members of Philadelphia SAPS which he says “ pounced on the premises” in the afternoon of Thursday, 25 July 2024. “Upon entry, a search ensued which led to the discovery of cannabis plants, compressed cannabis, two prohibited firearms and ammunition as well as an undisclosed amount of cash. The adult male and female who were present during the search could not provide an acceptable explanation nor a valid license to be in possession of such a large quantity of cannabis,” W/O Swartbooi said. The Cape Flats raid comes as law enforcement authorities continue their clampdown on illegal grow ops and illicit drug factories. SAPS says this year along they’ve closed down well over 30 “drug labs” and seized over R2 billion of illicit substances. In just the last month along, R70 million worth of cannabis has been confiscated in two raids – the Philidelphia farm bust and one in the Magaliesberg. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service SAPS Clampdown on Illicit Grow Ops Intensifies with an Estimated R70 million of Cannabis Seized in the Past Month

Charl Henning from Fields of Green for All argues that the Private Cannabis Club model is part of the template on which future cannabis policy can be built on, but warns the model is open to exploitation. Charl Henning from Fields of Green for All argues that the Private Cannabis Club model is part of the template on which future cannabis policy can be built on, but warns the model is open to exploitation. 1 February 2024 at 08:00:00 Charl Henning, Fields of Green for All This article was first published by Fields of Green for All on 25 January 2023. The research has been done. Dagga Private Clubs are a proven Harm Reduction tool. This has been evident since the first clubs appeared as safe spaces in Spain over a decade ago. The stigma surrounding Cannabis and its use is still alive and well in South Africa. The perceived harms of Cannabis are reflected in the ongoing arrests and media attention given to “What about the children?” and “Dagga laced with other drugs”, etc. What better way to reduce stigma than to provide SAFE spaces for ADULTS where they can obtain and enjoy QUALITY products, correctly labelled and served by TRAINED staff? I live a 20 minute drive from the CBD ( that kind) of Cape Town. I need to go to the city at least once a week, usually for work, which takes me to different corners of the city. Recently, every time I paid a visit, I encountered a new Cannabis outlet somewhere that I have not seen before, and I know the city well from when I used to live there. It is clear that “the times they are a-changing”. We are not free until we are ALL free! Many Cannabis outlets in South Africa are PRIVATE clubs that are trying very hard to adhere to best practice for clubs , taking our Constitutional Court judgement to heart and guided by Fields Of Green For ALL, common sense and international best practice. Any clubs should support and guide members on the use of Cannabis and ensure that they provide quality products and these two practises can be seen as as harm reduction tools. Useful links: ICEERS: Harm Reduction and Cannabis Social Clubs Social Dimension of Cannabis Social Clubs Unfortunately some so called ‘clubs’ exploit our absent regulations and prioritise profit over harm reduction and community . Many buy the SAPS more than just donuts , and are blatantly advertising their goods to passers by. Some seem to think they are protected under dodgy Section 21 ”licenses”. (The Section 21 issue is another blog for another day!) There are also many of those so-called “wellness vendors” that, by law, should only sell hemp and CBD products. Instead of club membership, they offer THC medibles and vapes, as these are (unlike Cannabis flower) not as obviously recognised. Why are Cannabis Social Clubs promoted as a Harm Reduction tool? These are safe spaces with access control. Private Clubs reduce stigma. Clubs educate members with what is otherwise hard to find information. Clubs offer informed choices. Most proper clubs tend towards selling only tested products, so you know exactly the potency of the product you are ingesting, which is a high priority with most regular and beginner consumers. Making informed choices also comes with the social advantage of sharing a private space with like-minded individuals. Cannabis Social Clubs do their best to protect the growers, those that make products and those that consume it. Despite all this, in 2024 the club model is still in question in Spain where it remains a regulative grey area. A vibrant Dagga Private Club should, at least, also offer social activities such as comedy evenings, competitions, quiz nights, live music, video games or host pastimes such as yoga or craft. These undertakings help reduce stigma while building the community. Stoners are not always couch potatoes! You can do many more things when stoned than when drunk! Many clubs have restaurants, not so many have bars. Having a no or restricted alcohol policy also creates a safer environment. These and many other harm reduction aspects of social clubs were included in a 4 year study researched by our international affiliate, ICEERS . The research team had the following to say about the study: “This study delves into the demographics, behaviours, and social dynamics of members of Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs) in Barcelona from 2017 to 2020. Analyzing data from 2007 members across five CSCs, it reveals that most members are young men, with an average age of 36.1 years, and shows gender differences in cannabis procurement patterns. The study also highlights the longer membership duration among women, older adults, and medical users, despite their lower cannabis use compared to young, recreational male members.” Let’s not forget that Fields of Green for ALL is fighting alongside The Haze Club to clarify legal aspects surrounding clubs following the September 2108 Constitutional Court “Privacy” judgement. Our legal fees, and those of the main defendants, are astronomical! We invite clubs who would like to contribute towards these expenses and other strategic litigation – for the benefit of ALL – to sign up to become members of our Dagga Private Clubs Project. More information about our DPC Project here. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Private Cannabis Clubs Are The Way Forward as a Proven Harm Reduction Tool

A UN report says Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger are a “natural stopover point” for drug trafficking between South America and Europe, but authorities are beginning to take down the criminal networks involved. A UN report says Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger are a “natural stopover point” for drug trafficking between South America and Europe, but authorities are beginning to take down the criminal networks involved. 6 May 2024 at 07:00:00 United Nations News This report from UN News, published on 5 May 2024. Cocaine, cannabis and opioids are getting easier to buy as criminal networks and armed groups capitalise on the fragile Sahel region's "natural stopover point" to Europe on trafficking routes from South America. However, authorities with help from the UN, are taking down criminal networks and making a record number of seizures of illicit drugs. According to a new report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ), drug trafficking in the Sahel continues to hinder security, economic development and the rule of law while jeopardising public health. Drug trafficking is well-established in the Sahel region - with detrimental consequences both locally and globally," said Amado Philip de Andres, who heads the agency's West and Central Africa regional office. "Increased drug flows to West Africa and the Sahel undermine peace and stability in the region," he said. "This is not only a security issue as armed groups are deriving revenue to finance their operations, it is also a public health issue as criminal groups tap into population growth to expand illicit drug markets. Large-scale trafficking In some Sahelian countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger - cannabis resin remains the internationally trafficked drug most commonly seized, followed by cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids. Indeed, seizures of cocaine skyrocketed in the Sahel in 2022, from an average of 13 kg per year seized between 2015 and 2020 to 1,466 kg in 2022. UNODC assessments said this suggests the presence of large-scale cocaine trafficking through the region. Although annual estimates were not available for 2023, by mid-year, 2.3 tons of cocaine had already been seized in Mauritania, according to the agency. The region's geographical location makes it a "natural stopover point" for the increasing amount of cocaine produced in South America en route to Europe, which has seen a similar rise in demand for the drug, the new report found. 'Vicious cycle' links trafficking and instability The drug economy and instability in the Sahel are linked through a "vicious cycle", the report noted, in which the weak rule of law is facilitating the expansion of the drug economy. That can, in turn, provide financial resources for maintaining or expanding conflicts, which then continue to weaken the rule of law. The new report found that drug trafficking continues to provide financial resources to armed groups in the region, including Plateforme des mouvements du 14 juin 2014 d'Alger (Plateforme) in Algeria and Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad (CMA) in Mali, enabling them to sustain their involvement in conflict, notably through the purchase of weapons. Meanwhile, traffickers are using money-laundering to disguise their illicit proceeds in a growing number of sectors, from gold to real estate. That makes financial transactions more difficult to track while giving traffickers greater economic leverage and "a veneer of legitimacy", the report found. Corruption enables traffickers Corruption and money laundering are "major enablers" of drug trafficking, according to the report. Recent seizures, arrests, and detentions in the Sahel region reveal how drug trafficking is facilitated by a wide range of individuals, which can include members of the political elite, community leaders and heads of armed groups. Traffickers have used their income to penetrate different layers of the State, allowing them to effectively avoid prosecution, according to UNODC. The report also highlighted overwhelming evidence of the continued involvement of armed groups in drug trafficking in the region, and found that terrorist organisation affiliates are likely to benefit indirectly through exacting zakat, a form of wealth tax, from traffickers and taxing convoys that cross areas under their control. Terrorist groups and organised crime Combatting terrorist groups operating in the Sahel was in the spotlight at the recent High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting, held in Abuja, Nigeria, in late April. Among concerns raised by Heads of State across the region were the increasing links between terrorism and organised crime. Speaking at the meeting, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed described the situation in Africa, particularly in the Sahel, as dire, noting that the region now accounts for almost half of all deaths from terrorism globally. "A major factor that has fuelled the rise in insurgency in the Sahel is organised crime, particularly the proliferation and smuggling of firearms across our porous borders," she said. "The availability of weapons empowers terrorist groups, often better equipped with the latest technology." Da'esh, Al-Qaida heading south At the gathering, UN counter-terrorism chief Vladimir Voronkov warned that Da'esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates have made some significant gains in the Sahel and are moving southward to the Gulf of Guinea. "We recognise that no single actor can resolve today's threats to peace and security alone," he said . "Instead, we need multiple actors working together, with solutions grounded in strong national ownership and supported by funding partners." A "step change" in commitments to address those complex challenges came with the launch of the UN Joint Appeal for Counter-Terrorism in Africa, he said, bringing together 16 UN entities in support of 10 new multipartner initiatives across the continent to tackle such critical areas as border management and countering terrorism travel on the continent and the nexus between terrorism and organised crime. Wake-up call Meanwhile, local and regional actors continue to join forces to combat the illegal drug trade in the Sahel, according to UNODC. The agency's new report should serve as a "wake-up call", said Leonardo Santos Simão, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel. "States in the Sahel region - along with the international community - must take urgent, coordinated and comprehensive action to dismantle drug trafficking networks and give the people in these countries the future they deserve," he said. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service UN: Cannabis Resin Bound for Europe is the Most Trafficked Drug in the West African Sahel .

The sudden and dramatic demise of International crowd-funding platform JuicyFields – accused of being a deliberate Ponzi scheme to fleece investors – has sent shockwaves through the South African cannabis industry, with e-Grower Canna Yeza being one of the hardest hit. The sudden and dramatic demise of International crowd-funding platform JuicyFields – accused of being a deliberate Ponzi scheme to fleece investors – has sent shockwaves through the South African cannabis industry, with e-Grower Canna Yeza being one of the hardest hit. 5 August 2022 at 14:00:00 Cannabiz Africa Several companies and individuals have felt the shockwaves of JuicyFields’ (JF) collapse, which may not only be the biggest scam in cannabis history, but in all of Europe as well. It is not known how many South Africans had invested in JF, which actively punted its crowd-funding platform at the recent Gauteng and Cape Town Cannabis Expos, but according to Businesscann there were a significant number of investors “from Africa”. All in all, and the costs are still geing counted, it would appear that over 500 million Euros may have been stolen, and that worldwide over 300 000 JF investors were fleeced of their investments. Canna Yeza funded equipment purchase that JF promised to refund From a business perspective, licensed Gauteng cannabis cultivator Canna Yeza a ppears to have taken the most severe financial knock in South Africa. Canna Yeza’s Nicholas Behr told Tred Magill, writing for Fin24 , that the “business was bought to its knees” after promised funding didn’t arrive. Behr told Fin24 that JF’s Alan Glanse, one of the six JF founders who has subsequently vanished wanted to bring Lanseria-based Canna Yeza into the JF platform as an “e-grower”. Glanse, who has been fingered as one of the mastermind’s behind the scheme, persuaded Canna Yeza to buy cultivation equipment on the promise it would be refunded. They were going to invest money in us. They wanted to bring us on as a e-grower for the cultivation side of things, because we have a licence. They made us buy R3.8 million worth of equipment. "They made us put up cameras and all of that and they never paid us. So, we're sitting in a predicament where we're out of pocket for a couple of million because of them. They literally put our business down on our knees. We have nothing left," he said. JF pulled out of July’s Durban Cannabis Expo sponsorship at the 11th hour And according to Cannabis Expo organizer Silas Howarth, JF pulled out of its sponsorship of the Durban Cannabis Expo just days before it was due to take place on 21 July 2022. He told Fin24 the Expo made contingencies and went ahead without JF. The crowd-funder had previously sponsored (without a financial hitch) the recent Cape Town and Gauteng Expos, as well as one organized by the South African Cannabis Expo team in Mexico City last year. Cannatrade Africa was more fortunate. CEO Myron Krost confirmed to Fin24 that JF purchased one of 14 investment units of a seed-fund, worth R157 000, and had paid up. The Cannabis Expo, The Green Side brand of Cannatrade Africa and Canna Yeza all feature as "partners" on the Juicy Fields website, while Krost and Behr both deny any partnership. "We've asked them numerous times to take our branding off their website. Even last year we've asked them ... before all of this has happened," said Behr. Not just a van der Merwe joke Former JF CEO, Willem van der Merwe , who resigned less than 50 days on the job before he resigned on 14 July 2022, wrote an open letter to stakeholders on 2 August 2022, saying he did not think JF was an intentional scam , but rather a “good business concept managed by inexperienced people”. In an email to Fin24 he said: "The whole purpose of my appointment was to assist the owners to make the company(s) in Europe compliant with … regulations and guidelines. I asked several questions from them when I joined. I asked them where the suppliers of the plants are they were selling. I asked them where the investment money was. I asked them who is handling the investment money. I asked them if I could have access to the database of investors or e-growers as they referred to the investors. "All of these questions were never answered properly or ignored. Since they could not or refused to disclose the information I required, I resigned. Van der Merwe told Fin24 that "to the best of my knowledge, this whole business had nothing to do with a so-called Ponzi scheme, or the Russian mafia". Who is the real JuicyFields? One of the problems in tracking what has been taken from where is the complicated network of JF companies and affiliates set up around the world. The JuicyFields AG, says it is a legitimate concern that is taking the heat for the JuicyFields.io platform. The JuicyFields AG site now features a message which reads: "We found out that the owners and operators of the juicyfields.io platform (Paul Bergolts, Robert Laibach, Alex Vaimer, Vasily Kandinski, Alan Glanse, Erika Misela) sent your money to the following two banks." ... and names ISX Pay in Cyprus and VIA PAYMENTS UAB in Lithuania. Juicy Fields AG claim via their website to have concluded an investigation and allege that bank accounts fraudulently set up in the name of the company with the forged signature and details of a Dr Robert Müller, a director of Juicy Fields AG; and used to transfer some 500 million euros (around R8.5 billion). Juicy Fields AG say they were informed by ISX Pay on 15 July 2022 that the accounts had been frozen. On 18 July 2022, Birgit Neumann – chief financial officer of Juicy Fields AG - posted a YouTube video on the company website, in which she alleges to have uncovered the owners and operators of the JF investment platform, which include two Russian nationals and two banks, implicated in alleged money laundering. "The investors scammed by the 'crowd-funding network juicyfields.io' are outraged and should not try to retrieve their investments from Juicy Field AG, but they held Juicy Fields AG liable, which is indeed not the case," reads Juicy Fields AG’s "counter-statement" Neumann says Juicy Fields AG plans to file criminal charges. ends PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service JuicyFields’ South African Shockwaves: Canna Yeza ‘Bought to Its Knees’ by False Promises

London-based Eden Pharma says it has 5 000 acres of licensed land in Uganda to cultivate cannabis and says its project will add percentage points onto the East African country’s GDP. London-based Eden Pharma says it has 5 000 acres of licensed land in Uganda to cultivate cannabis and says its project will add percentage points onto the East African country’s GDP. 25 October 2022 at 07:00:00 Stephanie Price, Cannabis Wealth Cannabis Weath’s Stephanie Price reports that London-based Eden Pharma is investing heavily in a Ugandan cannabis project. The Eden Uganda project is fully licensed by the Ugandan government the 5 000 acre site is expected to produce important research on cannabis and the industry, as well as large amounts of raw material CBD and cannabis for use in markets across the world. Eden Pharma has projected that the project will increase the GDP of Uganda by 3 per cent. A spokesperson for Eden Pharma commented: “The joint venture in Uganda has opened up Eden Pharma to significant development opportunities that will solidify the years of hard work Eden’s team has put into it. “Eden Pharma will be an exceptional vertically integrated company delivering for its customers and stakeholders alike.” The company has stated that the project involves building a community for the local people, creating jobs, boosting the local economy and increasing quality of life. According to Eden Pharma, the community will include infrastructure such as research labs, pharmacies and an airport. It has also stated it intends to employ 100 per cent Ugandan people within three years following completion of the Eden Uganda project. A documentary showcasing the land in Uganda entitled “The Garden of Africa” is currently in production. Eden Pharma also recently announced its successful listing on the MERJ Exchange. The company listed on 25 May 2022, with its Market Capitalisation upon listing circa £650m, and its share price closed on its first day of trading at £25.50. Change to Eden Pharma listed on the exchange with an opening price of £25.31 per share. Trading in Eden Pharma shares has seen the share price rise by 15 per cent since listing, with the company valuation standing at over £770m. PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service UK Cannabis Company Eden Pharma Has Bold Ambitions in Uganda

SAHPRA has earmarked three officials to deal with “walk-in” cannabis license applications. It suggests you contact them to make an appointment to find out more details or to lodge an application. SAHPRA has earmarked three officials to deal with “walk-in” cannabis license applications. It suggests you contact them to make an appointment to find out more details or to lodge an application. 23 February 2023 at 11:00:00 Cannabiz Africa The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued approximately 80 cannabis licenses to date and is trying to streamline the application process. It has dedicated three staff members to dealing with new applications, The Regulator says it has made huge strides in overcoming capacity and funding problems and is gearing up for increased demand for license applications. Current license regulations oblige an applicant to build a facility matching international specifications before any license is issued. For more information, these are you SAHPRA contact personnel: Mr Mlungisi Wondo mlungisi.wondo@sahpra.org.za 082 256 2626 Ms Mokgadi Fafudi mokgadi.fafudi@sahpra.org.za 066 301 1878 Mr Ramarumo Chepape ramarumo.chepape@sahpra.org.za 082 492 4955 # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Want a Cannabis License? These Are the Officials to Talk to at SAHPRA

As many as 30% of cases of schizophrenia among men aged 21-30 could have been prevented had they avoided cannabis use disorder, according to the study published on 11 May 2023 in Psychological Medicine. As many as 30% of cases of schizophrenia among men aged 21-30 could have been prevented had they avoided cannabis use disorder, according to the study published on 11 May 2023 in Psychological Medicine. 14 May 2023 at 10:00:00 Bloomberg News Young men who use potent cannabis frequently have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, according to a new study of almost 7-million health records. The condition, loosely defined as frequent use of the drug despite negative consequences, has been found to develop in around three in 10 who use cannabis, according to past research. The latest study, based on Danish health records, adds to growing research into cannabis and mental health outcomes in the US and other countries. “The entanglement of substance-use disorders and mental illnesses is a major public health issue, requiring urgent action and support for people who need it,” says co-author Nora Volkow, who is the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. While the Danish population does not have as much diversity as the US and genetics plays a role in schizophrenia risk, the findings should concern people of all ethnic backgrounds, Volkow says. “The evidence is sufficiently strong to encourage caution,” she says, particularly for those with any family history of schizophrenia or early symptoms of the mental disorder. Schizophrenia, characterised as a loss of touch with reality and by symptoms like delusions and hearing voices, can be a lifelong condition that is difficult to treat. Schizophrenia’s economic burden on the US was $343.2bn in 2019, more than double what it was in 2013, according to a study in the Clinical Journey of Psychiatry. The study is the first to show the relationship between cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia in a large population. Previous research has shown links between the use of cannabis with high levels of its psychoactive compound THC and psychosis, the loss of contact with reality that is a main symptom of schizophrenia. Using cannabis at an earlier age and more frequent use are also believed to heighten the risk. While cannabis use disorder is not responsible for most schizophrenia cases in Denmark, the study found, it contributed to a growing number of them over the last five decades. There was a difference between women and men; in the 16-49 age bracket, the study estimated that 15% of schizophrenia cases in men could be averted if they avoided cannabis use disorder, but only 4% of cases would be impacted in women. Potency cap? The finding comes as many US cannabis companies say they are increasing the potency of their products to keep up with consumer demand. Some US states and Germany have recently considered whether to cap the potency of cannabis. Cannabis is widely perceived to be nonaddictive and seen as beneficial for some mental-health issues. But recent studies have shown that teen rates of addiction to cannabis are about the same as to prescription opioids, there are serious risks from secondhand smoke, use of the drug in pregnancy, and an increased risk of heart disease. Some companies see opportunities to treat cannabis use disorder. The authors say the increasing number of schizophrenia cases that can be blamed on cannabis use disorder, which has increased over the last 50 years, is likely due to the increasing potency of cannabis, as well as more diagnosis of the condition. Carsten Hjorthøj, lead author of the study, says that legalisation has brought about a change in attitude, as fewer people perceive the drug to be dangerous. “This study adds to our growing understanding that cannabis use is not harmless,” Hjorthøj says. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Danish Study of 7 Million Health Records Highlights Risk of Cannabis Use Disorder – Especially Amongst Young Men

Cannabis users have been celebrating in Germany after new laws legalising personal possession came into effect. Cannabis users have been celebrating in Germany after new laws legalising personal possession came into effect. 2 April 2024 at 11:00:00 Lili Bayers and agencies This report from The Guardian, 1 April 2024. As of 1 April 2024, adults are allowed to carry up to 25g of dried cannabis on them and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. At midnight, people gathered at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate for a “smoke-in” to welcome the new rules, which were introduced after a heated debate about the pros and cons of allowing easier access to the drug. The government says decriminalisation will have an impact on the hidden market and reduce the spread of contaminated cannabis, thereby protecting young people. “Cannabis use already existed yesterday; it has been increasing,” the German health minister, Karl Lauterbach, said on Monday, 1 April 2024. “Now it’s coming out of the taboo zone. This is better for real addiction help, prevention for children and young people and for combating the black market, for which there will soon be an alternative,” he said in a social media post . Marco Buschmann, the justice minister, told German media that the partial legalisation would ease the burden on the judiciary and police. But there has been criticism about the possible impact on young people. “From our point of view, the law as it is written is a disaster,” Katja Seidel, a therapist at a drug addiction centre in Berlin, the Tannenhof Berlin-Brandenburg, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). “Access to the product will be easier, its image will change and become more normalised, especially among young people,” Seidel said, adding that she expected to see an increase in cannabis use “at least initially”. Cannabis consumption by anyone under 18 will continue to be illegal. The new legislation also has some safeguards to protect young people, including a ban on smoking cannabis within 100 metres (328ft) of a school, kindergarten, playground or sports centre. Lauterbach has promised a major campaign to educate young people about the health risks and boost prevention programmes. However, the planned media campaign hasn’t convinced critics. “It doesn’t resonate with them, it will never work,” said Boris Knoblich, a spokesperson for the Tannenhof Berlin-Brandenburg organisation. “What works is someone who goes in, talks to them over a coffee, without a teacher there,” he said. German law enforcement officials have also raised concerns. “From 1 April, our colleagues will find themselves in situations of conflict with citizens, as uncertainty reigns on both sides,” said the German police union’s deputy federal chairman, Alexander Poitz, Deutsche Welle reported . The union has expressed concerns about regulating the consumption of cannabis within the permitted distance to certain facilities and about the lack of instruments police would need. “The burden of implementing the law lies on the shoulders of the federal states and local authorities. The federal government has ordered, the federal government must pay,” said Poitz. The federal centre for health education, linked to the health ministry, told AFP it will “assume its responsibility by expanding its prevention offers”. The southern state of Bavaria meanwhile is testing an online training course for teachers on how to approach the topic in the classroom. According to official statistics from 2021, 8.8% of adults in Germany aged 18-64 said they had consumed cannabis at least once in the preceding 12 months. Among people aged 12 to 17, that number rose to nearly 10%. The government has said previously that many users rely on the drug for medicinal reasons and that the new law will improve the quality of cannabis consumed by growing numbers of young people. Observers from around the world will be closely watching how the law works in practice in Germany. The European Green party celebrated the move as a “Green win”, claiming on social media that it would “reduce drug trafficking” and relieve the pain and symptoms of some diseases. “We hope that the rest of EU countries will follow in Germany’s footsteps!” they said. Agence France-Presse contributed to this report PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Mass Brandenburg Gate ‘Smoke In’ Heralds Part Legalization of Cannabis in Germany

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released it’s Annual Drugs Report in Vienna, Austria on 27 June 2022. This is the UNOCD’s executive summary of its findings. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released it’s Annual Drugs Report in Vienna, Austria on 27 June 2022. This is the UNOCD’s executive summary of its findings. 30 June 2022 at 22:30:00 Brett Hilton-Barber The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released it’s Annual Drugs Report in Vienna, Austria on 27 June 2022. This is the UNOCD’s executive summary of its findings. Africa: Millenial Drug Use Disorder on the Rise According to the report, around 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than with the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under 35 represent the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders. Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. Around half of this number were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both. Reacting to these findings, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly stated: “Numbers for the manufacturing and seizures of many illicit drugs are hitting record highs, even as global emergencies are deepening vulnerabilities. “At the same time, misperceptions regarding the magnitude of the problem and the associated harms are depriving people of care and treatment and driving young people towards harmful behaviours. We need to devote the necessary resources and attention to addressing every aspect of the world drug problem, including the provision of evidence-based care to all who need it, and we need to improve the knowledge base on how illicit drugs relate to other urgent challenges, such as conflicts and environmental degradation” she said. The report further emphasizes the importance of galvanizing the international community, governments, civil society and all stakeholders to take urgent action to protect people, including by strengthening drug use prevention and treatment and by tackling illicit drug supply. Early indications and effects of cannabis legalization Cannabis legalization in North America appears to have increased daily cannabis use, especially potent cannabis products and particularly among young adults. Associated increases in people with psychiatric disorders, suicides and hospitalizations have also been reported. Legalization has also increased tax revenues and generally reduced arrest rates for cannabis possession. Continued growth in drug production and trafficking Cocaine manufacture was at a record high in 2020, growing 11 per cent from 2019 to 1,982 tons. Cocaine seizures also increased, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, to a record 1,424 tons in 2020. Nearly 90 per cent of cocaine seized globally in 2021 was trafficked in containers and/or by sea. Seizure data suggest that cocaine trafficking is expanding to other regions outside the main markets of North America and Europe, with increased levels of trafficking to Africa and Asia. Trafficking of methamphetamine continues to expand geographically, with 117 countries reporting seizures of methamphetamine in 2016‒2020 versus 84 in 2006‒2010. Meanwhile, the quantities of methamphetamine seized grew five-fold between 2010 and 2020. Opium production worldwide grew seven per cent between 2020 and 2021 to 7,930 tons – predominantly due to an increase in production in Afghanistan. However, the global area under opium poppy cultivation fell by 16 per cent to 246,800 ha in the same period. Key drug trends broken down by region In many countries in Africa and South and Central America, the largest proportion of people in treatment for drug use disorders are there primarily for cannabis use disorders. In Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in Central Asia, people are most often in treatment for opioid use disorders. In the United States and Canada, overdose deaths, predominantly driven by an epidemic of the non-medical use of fentanyl, continue to break records. Preliminary estimates in the United States point to more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021, up from nearly 92,000 in 2020. In the two largest markets for methamphetamine, seizures have been increasing – they rose by seven per cent in North America from the previous year, while in South-East Asia they increased by 30 per cent from the previous year, record highs in both regions. A record high was also reported for methamphetamine seizures reported from South-West Asia, increasing by 50 per cent in 2020 from 2019. Great inequality remains in the availability of pharmaceutical opioids for medical consumption. In 2020, there were 7,500 more doses per 1 million inhabitants of controlled pain medication in North America than in West and Central Africa. Conflict zones as magnets for synthetic drug production This year’s report also highlights that illicit drug economies can flourish in situations of conflict and where the rule of law is weak, and in turn can prolong or fuel conflict. Information from the Middle East and South-East Asia suggest that conflict situations can act as a magnet for the manufacture of synthetic drugs, which can be produced anywhere. This effect may be greater when the conflict area is close to large consumer markets. Historically, parties to conflict have used drugs to finance conflict and generate income. The 2022 World Drug Report also reveals that conflicts may also disrupt and shift drug trafficking routes, as has happened in the Balkans and more recently in Ukraine. A possible growing capacity to manufacture amphetamine in Ukraine if the conflict persists There was a significant increase in the number of reported clandestine laboratories in Ukraine, skyrocketing from 17 dismantled laboratories in 2019 to 79 in 2020. 67 out of these laboratories were producing amphetamines, up from five in 2019 – the highest number of dismantled laboratories reported in any given country in 2020. The environmental impacts of drug markets Illicit drug markets, according to the 2022 World Drug Report, can have local, community or individual-level impacts on the environment. Key findings include that the carbon footprint of indoor cannabis is between 16 and 100 times more than outdoor cannabis on average and that the footprint of 1 kilogram of cocaine is 30 times greater than that of cocoa beans. Other environmental impacts include substantial deforestation associated with illicit coca cultivation, waste generated during synthetic drug manufacture that can be 5-30 times the volume of the end product, and the dumping of waste which can affecting soil, water and air directly, as well as organisms, animals and the food chain indirectly. Ongoing gender treatment gap and disparities in drug use and treatment Women remain in the minority of drug users globally yet tend to increase their rate of drug consumption and progress to drug use disorders more rapidly than men do. Women now represent an estimated 45-49 per cent of users of amphetamines and non-medical users of pharmaceutical stimulants, pharmaceutical opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers. The treatment gap remains large for women globally. Although women represent almost one in two amphetamines users, they constitute only one in five people in treatment for amphetamine use disorders. The World Drug Report 2022 also spotlights the wide range of roles fulfilled by women in the global cocaine economy, including cultivating coca, transporting small quantities of drugs, selling to consumers, and smuggling into prisons. PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service UN Says Drug Usage Up 26% in a Decade; Warns of a ‘Crisis of the Vulnerable’

Despite the positive economic impact cannabis has had on the post-Covid Thai economy, the new government is set on reversing the cannabis reform gains made by the previous administration. It is turning it’s back on a growing industry that was projected to be worth up to US$1,2 billion by 2025. Despite the positive economic impact cannabis has had on the post-Covid Thai economy, the new government is set on reversing the cannabis reform gains made by the previous administration. It is turning it’s back on a growing industry that was projected to be worth up to US$1,2 billion by 2025. 9 May 2024 at 05:00:00 India TV Thailand's steps towards reaping the economic rewards of legalized cannabis are facing a dead end and thousands of cannabis enterprises will go out of business, including cannabis-themed spas, restaurants and festivals. This report from India TV, published by 420Intel.com on 8 May 2024. Thailand Plans to Re-List Cannabis as Narcotic Despite Growing Industry. Thailand will re-list cannabis as a narcotic by year-end, its Prime Minister said on Tuesday, in a stunning U-turn just two years after becoming one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise its recreational use. The moves come despite rapid growth in the domestic retail sector for marijuana, with tens of thousands of shops and businesses springing up in Thailand in the past two years in an industry projected to be worth up to $1.2 billion by 2025. I want the health ministry to amend the rules and re-list cannabis as a narcotic," Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on social media platform X. "The ministry should quickly issue a rule to allow its usage for health and medical purposes only. Thailand and its Cannabis dilemma Cannabis was decriminalised for medical use in 2018 and recreational use in 2022 under a previous government, but critics say its liberalisation was rushed through, causing huge confusion about rules and regulations. Srettha's comments followed a meeting with agencies involved in narcotics suppression, where he vowed to take a tough stand on illicit drugs and ordered authorities to deliver results and show "clear progress" in the next 90 days. "Drugs are a problem that destroys the future of the country, many young people are addicted. We have to work fast, to confiscate assets (of drug dealers) and expand treatment," he said. He also asked authorities to redefine what constitutes drug possession under the law, from "small amount" to "one pill", to to enable tougher enforcement by authorities. Srettha's government had earlier said it wanted to push out a cannabis law by year-end that would ban recreational marijuana and allow its use for medical and health purposes only. It was not immediately clear when cannabis would be re-listed as a narcotic or what processes must first take place. "List cigarettes and alcohol as narcotics too" Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of Thailand's Cannabis Future Network, said re-criminalising cannabis would be a bad move for the economy and deal a big blow to small businesses and consumers. "Many people have been growing cannabis and opening cannabis shops. These will have to close down," he told Reuters. "If scientific results show that cannabis is worse than alcohol and cigarettes then they can re-list it as a narcotic. If cannabis is less harmful, they should list cigarettes and alcohol as narcotics too." # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Thailand’s Shock U-Turn on Cannabis: Strictly Medicinal, Broader Adult-Use Will be Prohibited.

Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Increases Risks for Newborns Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Increases Risks for Newborns 20 June 2022 at 22:00:00 Brett Hilton Barber Pregnant Mothers and Foetuses Also Most at Risk The South African Medical Journal (SAMJ) has warned that “it is impossible to conclude that adolescent cannabis use is safe” – even given the paucity of data on the subject. In an editorial in its latest issue, SAMJ, Africa’s most respected medical journal, argued that adolescents, pregnant mothers, and foetuses are most vulnerable to the harmful effects of cannabis. It said cannabis policy should ensure that these groups received special consideration. SAMJA’s comments come at a time when the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill is back in the hands of state lawyers to redraft. This after the Bill drew heavy criticism during the period of public input. It is due back in Parliament in August 2022. News 24 reported on 20 June 2022, that the SAMJ researchers consulted “multiple studies” and found that regular cannabis use is “associated with neurological changes and cognitive and emotional deficits in teenagers”. It said “prolonged cannabis use during adolescence also disrupts the neuron maturation processes that occur during this period, with synaptic pruning and white matter development particularly affected. Adolescent cannabis use is also associated with cognitive deficits; adolescents who use cannabis frequently demonstrate more severe executive dysfunction than their adult counterparts. “Critically, it is not yet clear whether these effects are reversible, with some evidence suggesting that cannabis-related neurocognitive impairments persist into adulthood, even after prolonged abstinence,” the researchers wrote. Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Increases Risks for Newborns The study found that many women who use cannabis during pregnancy also experience poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care, making it difficult to highlight the effects of cannabis on foetal development from these other confounding factors. Evidence shows that cannabis use during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse outcomes for women and newborns. Furthermore, study findings show that cannabis use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding alters the developmental trajectory of multiple brain regions and may result in functional consequences, such as impulse control, visual memory and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders during childhood. The researchers say that parliamentarians should consider the harm cannabis causes in teenagers and pregnant women. However, they say that it does not mean cannabis legalisation should be resisted, but that policymakers need to ensure that “adolescent cannabis use should be actively discouraged and that pregnant women should be advised to avoid cannabis use”. PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service SA Medical Journal: “Impossible to Argue That Teenage Cannabis Use is Safe”

Brazil’s Supreme Court has voted to decriminalize possession of marijuana for personal use, making the nation one of Latin America’s last to do so, in a move that could reduce its massive prison population. Brazil’s Supreme Court has voted to decriminalize possession of marijuana for personal use, making the nation one of Latin America’s last to do so, in a move that could reduce its massive prison population. 26 June 2024 at 05:00:00 Associated Press This report from Associated Press, Rio de Janeiro published on 26 June 2024. With final votes cast on Tuesday, 25 June 2024,, a majority of the justices on the 11-person court have voted in favor of decriminalization since deliberations began in 2015. The justices must still determine the maximum quantity of marijuana that would be characterized as being for personal use and when the ruling will enter into effect. That is expected to finish as early as today. All the justices who have voted in favor said decriminalization should be restricted to possession of marijuana in amounts suitable for personal use. Selling drugs will remain illegal. In 2006, Brazil’s Congress approved a law that sought to punish individuals caught carrying small amounts of drugs, including marijuana, with alternative penalties such as community service. Experts say the law was too vague and didn’t establish a specific quantity to help law enforcement and judges differentiate personal use from drug trafficking. Police continued to arrest people carrying small quantities of drugs on trafficking charges and Brazil’s prison population continued to swell. “The majority of pre-trial detainees and those convicted of drug trafficking in Brazil are first-time offenders, who carried small amounts of illicit substance with them, caught in routine police operations, unarmed and with no evidence of any relationship with organized crime,” said Ilona Szabó, president of Igarapé Institute, a think tank focusing on public security. Congress has responded to the top court’s ongoing deliberations by separately advancing a proposal to tighten drug legislation, which would complicate the legal picture surrounding marijuana possession. In April, the Senate approved a constitutional amendment criminalizing possession of any quantity of illicit substance. The lower house’s constitutional committee approved the proposal on June 12, and it will need to pass through at least one other committee before going to a floor vote. If lawmakers pass such a measure, the legislation would take precedence over the top court’s ruling but still could be challenged on constitutional grounds. Speaking to reporters in capital Brasilia, the Senate’s president, Rodrigo Pacheco, said it isn’t the Supreme Court’s place to issue a decision on the matter. “There is an appropriate path for this discussion to move forward and that is the legislative process,” he said. “It is something that, obviously, arouses broad discussion and it is a subject of preoccupation for Congress.” Last year, a Brazilian court authorized some patients to grow cannabis for medical treatment after the health regulator in 2019 approved guidelines for the sale of medicinal products derived from cannabis. But Brazil is one of a few countries in Latin America that hasn’t decriminalized the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal consumption. The Supreme Court’s ruling has long been sought by activists and legal scholars in a country where the prison population has become the third largest in the world. Critics of current legislation say users caught with even small amounts of drugs are regularly convicted on trafficking charges and locked up in overcrowded jails, where they are forced to join prison gangs. “Today, trafficking is the main vector for imprisonment in Brazil,” said Cristiano Maronna, director of JUSTA, a civil society group focusing on the justice system. Brazil ranks behind U.S. and China in countries with the highest prison populations, according to the World Prison Brief, a database tracking such figures. Some 852,000 individuals were deprived of liberty in Brazil as of December 2023, according to official data. Of those, nearly 25% were arrested for possession of drugs or trafficking. Brazilian jails are overcrowded, and Black citizens are disproportionately represented, accounting for more than two-thirds of the prison population. A recent study by Insper, a Brazilian research and education institute, determined that Black individuals found by police with drugs were slightly more likely to be indicted as traffickers than white people. The authors analyzed over 3.5 million records from Sao Paulo’s public security secretariat from 2010 to 2020. “An advance in drug policy in Brazil! This is an issue of public health, not security and incarceration,” leftist lawmaker Chico Alencar wrote on X after the ruling. By contrast, Gustavo Scandelari, a specialist on Brazil’s penal code at law firm Dotti Advogados, said he doesn’t foresee the ruling bringing about a significant shift from the status quo, even after the top court establishes a maximum quantity of marijuana for personal use. Scandelari argued that the amount will remain one determinant of whether authorities consider a person a dealer or a user, but not the only one. Some Brazilians, like 47-year-old Rio de Janeiro resident Alexandro Trindade, have managed to be upset with both the Supreme Court decriminalizing marijuana and Congress pushing to keep it illegal. “The Supreme Court is not the right place (for such decision). This should be submitted to a plebiscite for the people to decide,” Trindade said. “Both the Supreme Court and Congress have been very opposed to society in this.” As in other countries in the region, like Argentina, Colombia and Mexico, medicinal use of cannabis in Brazil is allowed, though in a highly restricted manner. Uruguay has fully legalized the use of marijuana, and in some U.S. states recreational use for adults is legal. In Colombia, possession has been decriminalized for a decade, but a law to regulate the recreational use of marijuana so that it can be sold legally failed to pass in the Senate in August. Colombians can carry small amounts of marijuana, but selling it for recreational purposes is not legal. The same goes for Ecuador and Peru. Both distribution and possession remain illegal in Venezuela. Argentina’s Supreme Court ruled in 2009 it was unconstitutional to penalize an adult for consuming marijuana if it didn’t harm others. But the law has not been changed and users are still arrested, although most cases are thrown out by judges. Uruguay became the first country to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2013 although it was only implemented in 2017. Uruguay’s whole industry, from production to distribution, is under state control and registered users can buy up to 40 grams of marijuana per month through pharmacies. # PREVIOUS NEXT What Sets Us Apart ? Cannabiz Africa is the leading B2B news platform for the continent's cannabis industry, connecting you directly with key stakeholders. With over 4,000 unique monthly users and a growing audience of 1,500 engaged Newsline subscribers, we provide unmatched visibility for your brand. Advertise with us today to reach the heart of the industry! Click here, to advertise your brand, product and or service Brazil’s Supreme Court Decriminalizes Personal Possession of Cannabis